Machine for treating sheet materials



Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 1943 eSheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29,

Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR I MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1943 Jan. 2. 1945.

D. EDGAR MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledApril 29, I943 Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR I MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEETMATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 29, 1943 Jan. 2. 1945 D.EDGARMACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet5 L tk.

Jan. 2. 1945. D. EDGAR 2,366,242

MACHINE FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet6 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE- MACHINE roe TREATINGSHEET j MATERIALS Davie Edgar, Lynn, Mass, assig'nor to United ShoeMachinery Corporation,

N. J. a corporation of New Jersey Flemington,

Application April 29,1943, Serial 485,001 t t 2 71 Glaims.

eration performed obviouslyneed not be. limited.

to a putting-out operation but may consist in some other formoftreatment. of sheet materials. The machine illustrated shows blades fora putting-out operation. However, other forms of tools for treatingsheet materials could welfbe substituted and the numberof; tools aswel'las the) typev of tool carrying members could be changed withoutdepartingufrom the spirit and scope of this invention.

Itis an object of the inventionzto provide a machine in whichsheetmaterial to be treated may: be spread out in a single plane andpassed into'and through a treating zone in which zone progressiveoverlapping areas of, the-material may be treated by suitably arrangedtools against which the material may be pressed,the pressure beingapplied while a given piece of material has ,entered thetreating zoneand being released when such piece of sheet material has been adequately treated, after wh-ich such piece of'material maybedischarged. vStill a' further object is: a provision of such" a machine in which thepresence of each work piece ofsheet material entering the machine willinitiate the application of pressure ofjsuch work piece against thetreating tools and the completion of adequate treatment oi that workpiece will terminate such application of pressurepermitting freedischarge of suclrwork piece pre- I liminary' tothe reception of thenext piece to betreatedi Q; 1

For the purposes'in view and inaccordance with further features of theinvention the illustrated machine is provided with a table over whichthe sheet materialis-conveyedin passing through the treating zone' andmeans for: lifting thetable to press a piece of sheet materialagainstthe tools, the said means also serving as a means;

for lowering thetableand relieving'thepressure after that piece ofmaterial has been trea'tedi Preferably, but not necessarily; fluidpressure means is provided for lif tingland lowering the table. Furthernovelty is to berecognized in an arrangement of parts in which detectoror feel'er beihglaid out on a single plane -or' continuou'a;

on. ta -4i) surface by an operator, and while solaid out, .is passed bysuitable conveyor means through a treating zone wherein. suitabletoolsets are provided "for actingoutwardly in at least four di- 5 vergingdirections or paths on the sheet material from a central area in thetreating zone,

after which the material'isdischarged from that zone. A feature. of theinvention consists. in

providing an arrangement of 'setsof individual tools which maybe said.to be. mounted for diverging, paths of movement ateach. side '01' thecenter line of the single plane or continuous sure face of. the sheetmaterial support. Such sets may be described; as beingin. X formation.They 1-5 thereby conform generallywith' the. flanks or sheetmaterialsuch as hides or skins. In ac.-

cordance with a further feature the diverging sets of tools in thexformation are made ad justable withrelation. to each other to suitgiven. conditions such as the type ofthematerial to be treated, rate ofpassage of the material through the machine and the nature of thetreatment. In accordance with another feature.

of the invention there is provcided an arrangement oftool setsinaddition to those of the formationandmounted in the same" plane to i tminimize the possibility of any portion of the sheet'material escapingtreatment- In accordance with still another feature of. I

the" invention novel means is provided forholding' sheet materialinpo'sitiori on and in relation to aconveyor-belt" during treatment ofthe material against any undue j shifting under the ac-U tionof thetreatingtoolson the material.

The above and other features ofthe invention",

including novel detailsof construction and combinations of partswillflnow be more'particularly desen'bed; connection with theaccompanying draWingsandPOinted out inthe claims. 40 In the drawings; ri 1 Fig; 1 isa view insideelevationfofwa machine in whi'clrthe intentionis em-bodied showing the main putting out tool members turned to per miteasy: and clear illustration, and with the;

vworh support or table in lowered? or inoperative position; i i l i iFig. 2 is'an elevati'onal view oi the" left end of. the machine shown inFig; 1, with-the'worksupa port or table: in operative: position andincluding the forward end of the conveyorbelt arrange;

V ment upon. which theflsheet. material is; introduced by the operatorfor-treatment by'the' ma Fig. =3 is a" plan View: of the machine shownin Fig. 1", some-aofii the parts" being broken away to 3 3 show moreclearly the'construction thereof:

Fig. 4- is an enlarged plan view taken along the line Iv -IV of Fig:'1", two'supporting: beams 7 Being merely block'edsin:fcrpurposesofclarity; Fig. is an emlargedplantview oi the tool carrying member shownin the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlargedelevational view of any one of the four long diverging :tool membersshown in Fig. 3, the supporting frame portion being in section;

Fig. 7'is a sectional view along the line VII I VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 isa sectional view along the line VIII- VIII of Fig. 6; v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan View of some of the structural detailsincluding the switch members for controlling the operation of the worktable and also showing one of the two short tool members, this memberbeing also shown in the left half of Fig. 3. In Fig. 9 the main framemembers of the machine are not shown for purposes 204 together withlongitudinal parallel upper channel beams I6'are shown (Fig. 1). Themain frame members I0, I2, I4 and 204 are duplicated on the other sideof the machine and together with suitable transverse stiffening beamssuch as IB-and form 'a rigid and sturdy frame. Columns 22 (Fig, 1 aremounted upon the members I4 on each side of the machine and at theirtops support back-to-back spaced channel bars 24 at their outer ends,These back-to-back channel bars are suitably mounted at their otherendsto the main frame ofthe machine and are angularly placed as. shown inFig. 3. back-toeback channelbars 24 serves as a support forthe outer endof a tool member or tool carrierdesignat'ed generally by character 26,28,

mposition to vary the angular position of that Each set of a bracket 42to and beyond a set of brackets I8 and 80. The upper edge, the loweredge, and the" innermost end, face. 82 of each plate 60 is adapted toserve as a narrow bearing surface for the rollers of a chain 86. Anglebars 88 (Fig. 8) are mounted on the p1ate'60 and suitably spacedtherefrom .by spacers 90 and bolts 9|. The angle bars '88 serve asguiding means for the chain 86 by engagement with U-shaped members 92secured to the chain. The U-shaped members 92 tened and supported theputting-out tools or blades 94.

The blades 94 are herein shown as mounted on every other link of thechain. How ever, the-blades or tools may be mounted nearer orfartherapart as occasion demands. The tools 94, of the illustrated machine, arein the form of angle bars, each angle bar having both its edge facesbeveled to form a dull edge. When one edge of a bar is unduly worn, thatbar can be reversed in position topresent the other edge to the materialbeing treated. Other forms of tools may obviously be substituted and bemounted differently, as hereinbefore stated. In addition to theabove-described sets of working tools which diverge horizontally toconstitute what may be described as an X formation, two additional butshorter sets of tools are located in the same plane as those in the Xformation and in line with the central portion of the machine, as shownin Fig.

3 as well as in Fig. 1. These two additional sets 130 or32 (Fig. 3). Thespace 34 between the backs tool carrying member in the X formation andthereby, suit various sizes of hides to be treated or to suit variousconditions. Bolts 36 (Figs. 3 and 8), for each of such sets, are.utilized for this purpose. They pass through the .slots 34 (Fig. 3)between the channel bars 24 and also through slots 31-. in the centralportions of plates 38. (Figs. 5 and 8). Rods 40 depend from the plate 38and adjustably support brackets 42 and 43 by means of nuts 44 and 46(Fig. 8). bracket 42 carries bearing 48 and bracket 43 carries bearing50 inwhich bearings a shaft 52 is journaled. Upon the shaft 52is mounteda sprocke et wheel 54 having a hub 56. On the opposite ends'ofthebrackets 42 and 43 are suitable flanges 58 (Figs. 5 and 6) to which aplate 60 is secured by means of bolts 62 and 64. Slots 66 and ;68areprovided in the plate 60 by which adjustmentmay be made to compensatefor wear in a chain to be described. The other or inner ends of the longtool carrying members 26, 28, 30 and 32 are supported from transverseplates 10 by means of bolts 12, plates 14, dependent rods "I6 andbrackets 18 and 80 (Fig. '7). Slots II (Fig.

- 4) in plates I0 and slots 13 in plates I4 permit The a are identicalin structure but opposed in posi-. tion. Each short set is provided withtwo plates 96 and 98 extending from the under side of one machine framemember I6 to the under side of the other machine frame member I6 (Fig.3).

The construction and support of these sets is clearly shown in Figs, 9and 10. A horizontal plate 99 is centrally bolted to plate 96 and asecond horizontal plate ml is similarly bolted to plate 98; Two rods I00depend from the plate 99 and by means of brackets I04 support one end ofa vertical plate I06. The brackets I04 are vertically adjustable on therods I00, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. This end of the plate I05 has itsnarrow end and bottom edge utilized as the means on which the rollersofla chain I08 7 ear. Two rods I02 depend from the plate II and supportvertically adjustable brackets H0 and III. The brackets H0 and I IIsupport two bearings I I4 and I I2 in which a shaft H6 is journaled.Sprocket IIB with hub H9 is mounted on the shaft II6. Plate I06 issecured to the brackets H0 and III by bolts I20 which extend throughlengthwise slots in the plate so as to permit horizontal adjustment ofthe plate and I the chain I08. I The chain I08 carries putting-out toolsI24 which are similar to the putting-out tools 94. Here again, othertypes of tools, such as brushes, for example, may be used, dependingupon the treatment desired for the sheet material.

.In each of the six sets of tools an endless roller chain 86 or I00 isprovided which passes over a driving sprocket 54 or H8 and around asuitably formed andfixed plate 60 or I06 whereby the lower run of thechain is adapted to be in running engagement with the lower edge of saidplate. It is .to be understood that six sets of tools are not necessaryand that the four longer sets (in the X formation) may Well besufiicient for some types of work. The two shorter sets are added, inthepreferred arrangement shown, to insure that no part of sheet ma eri l sthrq ehethe ma hi e 1.. :es

form part of each chain and to them are fascape adequate treatment, aswill further appear. The inner ends of the tool sets in the X. formationmay be located in various positions, by

modifications not shown in the. drawings, to minimize the possibilitythat some portion. of the sheet material would not be treated. With thisend in mind, the tool sets may be arrangedin such a Way that tool set 30would extend across the longitudinal center line of a belt 200 carryingI the sheet materialand the jtool set 32 would be located at a positionfarther along thebelt to clear the tool set 30. .Sets 26 and 28 may bealso located in such a way that one. or both of them :extend across thecenter line of the belt 200 and yet do not interefere with each other.

Such an arrangement is possible with orw'ithout a. change inangularities of the toolsets with re.-

.spect to one another. In the specific embodi- ,ment shown in thedrawings (Figs. 3 and 4), the

individual blades or tools 94. of set 30 are. operatively arranged toalternate with the individual tools .94 of the set 32 to precludenon-treatment.

of any Workpiece area. The tools of sets 26 and 20 arearrangedsimilarly. I g 1 Motive power for the six sets of tools shown inthe drawings is derived from. a motor I26 mounted upon the main framemembers I6.

The motor shaft I 28 drives a sprocket I30 and by means of chains I andI42, together with sprockets I32, I34 mounted on the shaft Iandsprocket. I36 on shaft I44, rotate the shaft I44. Arrows in Fig. 1 showthe directions of rotation.

The latter shaft, in turn, drives shafts I46 and I48 by the use ofuniversal joints, as shown in Fig. 3, and they, in turn, drive thesprocket shaft 52 of each of the tool carrying members 30 and 32 by theuse of additional universal joints. The ,sprockets I32 and I34 aremounted on shaft I50 which is suitably mounted in brackets I52 and I54on thelongitudinal frame members I6fi(Figs.

1' and 3). On the shaft I 50 and keyedtheretd is a gear I56 (Fig. 3)which is in mesh with a gear I58 fast to a shaft I60" which is mountedin brackets adjacent and similar to the brackets I52 and I54 forsupporting the shaft I50. Shaft I60 has mounted thereon a sprocket I62which,

. "through chain I64 and sprocket I 66, drives a shaft I68. Shaft I68 issuitably mounted in bearings on the frame of the machine and drives thetool carrying chains of members 26. and 28 'in thesame manner as is doneby shaft I44 with respect to the members 30 and 32; Theabove descriptionpertains solely to the driving o'fthose setsof tools in the X formationand the use of the universal joints permits adjustment of the angles ofdiversion of such sets. Shafts I46-and [I48 andtheoppositecorresponding: shafts are all telescopically arranged.

The short set of tools, shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and injthe left-handside of'Fig.1, is driven from the shaft I44 by sprocket I38 and" chainI12, sprocket I14 and sprocket II8,the latter two sprockets being keyedto shaft II 6. The other short chain of tools is similarly driven butfrom theshaft I68, sprocket I'I0, chain I16, sprockets a shaft I84. Asprocket I86 as they are merely round bars belt200 (Fig. .2) is drivenat a uniform an proper speed through the machine. 7 I

A flat table 202 (Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted withinthecolumns 22 forvertical up-and-down movement; A plate 204 is placed on both sides ofthe machine to serve as a stiffening member for the machine frame andbrackets 205 mounted on the plate 204. lend rigidity tothe standards 22to which they are affixed. The table 202 is mounted,;upon four brackets2I0, for vertical movement within the side plates 204. The brackets 2I0rest uponwthe. arms 2I2'of bell cranks 2I4. (The bell cranks are keyed.tothe ends of shafts 2I6 suitably journaled on. the

frame members I4. The depending arms. of the bell cranks 2I4 are pivotedat their lower ends to a bar or bars 2I8. It is to be understood thatonly twobell cranks (one at each end of the table 202) and one bar 2I8need be used. At one end of the bar or 'bars 2I8 is afluid-operatedmech- 'anism 220 (Fig. 2) which is arranged to oscillate the bellcranks. 2M and thus to raise and lower the table 202 into and outof'operative relationship with the blades 04 and I24.

At the forward end of the machine (Fig. 2)

is mounted an extension 222 of the table 202.

A similar extension 223 is located at the other end of the machine andis partially shown in Fig. 1. Both extensions are mounted for verti- Ical movement with the table 202.: The'stiffening members. or side plates204 extend from theforward end of the machine (Fig. 2) and are supportedat their ends onstandards 206. The latter structure serves as asupportfor an idler pulley structure designated generally as 208. The broadwork carrying. belt 200, passes upwardly over a'pulley 2I0 and thenceinto contactzwith the top surface of table 202and its extensions 222 and223, therebypassing beneath the putting-out tools!" and I24 and out thedischarge or rear end of the machine. The belt 200, being endless, willflex about a driven pulley. (not shown) at the rear and exterior to themachine and pass back through the machine over idler rollers 224 mountedon the machine frame in The. stretch of the belt ;200 is adequate toallow the vertical suitable brackets 226 (Fig. l).

motion of the table 202 Without using spring loading means on the belt.However, conventional means for maintaining a uniform tension in thebelt 200 may be used if desired. The belt may be made of rubber or othersuitable material. Wiper bars 225 (the ends t in contact with rollers224) may be usedto aid in keeping the belt clean. 1 l I Extending"transversely of and located substantially midway between the ends of thetable 202 is a holding roll 230 which isljournaled and verticallymovablein brackets 232 bolted to the sides of thetable, A slight clearance-(less than the thickness of workjto be treated) is left between thebottom of the roll 230 and the upper surface of the conveyor belt 200 topermit passage of the sheet material therethrough. The

roll 230may be rubber covered if desired and itmay be held down in itslowermost position in the brackets 232 by its own weight or it may .beyieldingly held down by spring means.

The mechanism for controlling the operation of the fluid-operated meansfor raisingand lowering the work table 202 is illustrated particularlyin Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and '10. The forward exten sion 222 of the table202i sprovided with side (not showm by means of which the conveyor only areshown solenoid 348 and with a, switch 342..

members 300 which serve to support transversely extending angle bars 302(Fig. 3). The bars 302, in turn, support two members 304 (Figs. 9 and inpositions above the table 202 and in fixed relation thereto. Verticalguide brackets 306 and 308 are mounted as shown and support switch rods3H) for endwise movement. Brackets 308 also support switches 312 whichare adapted to be actuated by adjustable stops 3l4 on the rods 3I0.Pivotally connected to the rods 310 at 3I6 are extension rods 318. Theopposite end of each extension rod 3l8is bent to form apivotedconnection with the upper end of one arm of a bell crank 320. The otherarm of each bell crank 320 has pivotally connected thereto a wheel 322.Each bell crank is pivotally con-- nected at 324 (Fig. 10) to an arm326, the arms 326 being pivotedby means of bolts 328 to the members 304.Adjustment screws 330 are provided whereby the angular positions of thearms 326 may be regulated to give the minimum clear ance desired betweenthe wheels 322 and the conveyor belt 200. Brackets 232 (Fig. 1.) supportthe roll 230 for vertical movement in guideways shown as alreadydescribed. At the sides of each bracket 232 is pivoted at 332 abell-crank lever 334. The upper bent-over end 336 of each lever 334extends over an upstanding pin 338 mounted on each journal block of roll239. The other end 340 of each lever 334 extends over and controls aswitch 342. A coil spring 344 positioned at each switch 342 is undercompression and serves to keep the lever end 336 in contact with pins338 at all times. A source of power such as switch box 346 (Fig. 2) isprovided by which a solenoid 348 is operated through suitable elecvalvemechanism 352 which controls the passage of fluid from a source ofpressure 354 to cylinder .and piston mechanism 220 for the reciprocationof bar or bars 2! 8 and the lifting or lowering of the followingelements as a unit: the table 202, the table extensions 222 and 223, theswitches 3l2 and 342, and the levers and other operating mechanisms forsaid switches. Each switch 3l2 is connected into the circuit in serieswith the The lifting of one of the wheels 322 and one end of the roll230 away from the table 202 serves to close the switches and to operatethe solenoid. The solenoid, thus operated, serves to shift the slidevalve in mechanism 352 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. The arrangementis such that such shift will admit fluid pressure from the source offluid pressure 364 into the lefthand end of the cylinder 220 and therebylift the table 202 and its associated elements by means of the bar M8and the bell cranks 2l4. Lowering of a wheel 322 and/or one end of theroll 233 will interrupt the current passing through the solenoid, inwhich case spring 356 will shift the valve of mechanism 352 to the leftas viewed in Fig. 2. This will establish a differential in pressurewithin the mechanism 220 to bring about a lowering of the table 202 withits appurtenances. As stated before, means other than that shown couldbe used to bring about the lifting and lowering of the table 202 and itsextensions 222 and 223.

In the operation of the machine, motor I26 is viewedin Fig.2, and thehide is carried thereby at a uniform rate over the table 202 and itsextensions 222 and 223 in their lowered or inoperative position. Whenthe leading edge of the hide passes beneath the wheels 322, bell cranks320 are turned counterclockwise about pivots 324, shifting one or bothrods 3) to the left (Fig. 10) and closing the switch or switches 3l2.Nothing happens at this stage, however, as switches 342 are open and thetable. 202 stays down. In the meantime, motor I26 maintains all the toolsets in motion, the lower runs of which are passing outwardly from thecenter of the machine. As the hide passes under the roll 230, pins 338lift the lever ends 336 against the action of springs 344 and cause theclosure of switches 342. Closure of one or both sets of switches (a setconsisting of a switch 3l2 and av switch 342) establishes a currentthrough the solenoid 348 and brings about the lifting of the table byfluid pressure to cause the hide to come ,in contact with three sets oftools, as will be causes the belt 200 and the six sets of toolstoreadily understood. Wheels 322 are placed as close to the roll 230 as ispracticable in order that as short a hide as one may desire to treat canbe handled. The'switch arrangement permits an interval to elapse betweenthe time of introduction of the hide and the time for lifting of thetable 2412 and also causes the table to drop at the proper time. inposition on the conveyor belt 200 against the tendency of any set orsets of tools to pull the hide excessively or unduly. Such retention isessential is essential to prevent a-piling-up of the hide and to assurea smooth passage of the hide through the machine. As long as wheels 322and roll 230 areheld up by the hide, the table 202 will remain in itshide treating oroperative position. After the leading edge of the hidehas passed roll 230, tool sets 26 and 28 begin to take,

hold and treat the hide .and their operation is soon supplemented by thelast short tool set. The hide continues its travel beneath the toolswith the result that the entire hide area-is subjected to the action ofthe tools. Each. set of tools is so operated as to act from a centralportion of the hide outwardly. The short chains or sets of tools may beomitted but their use is preferred to insure that no portion of the hidemisses treatment and they also tend to maintain' the hide in tensionalong the backbone line when the hide is introduced in that position.The longer sets of tools serve to put out the hide along the generallines or directions, of the flanks, which is the most approved procedurein the manufacture of leather. It can be easily seen that with suchstructure the largest of hides can be treated.

Side leather, for example, measures up to twelve feet, and over, inlength and can be treated in this machine. Whenthe trailing edge of thehide passes from beneath the wheels 322, switches 312 are opened, thecircuit is broken and the table is lowered by fluid pressure asspring356 operates the valve mechanism 352. the table terminates theoperation of the blades on the hide. By this time the next hide placedon the conveyor belt 200 a short distance from the first hide will havealmost reached the wheels 322 and after it has passed beneath the wheels322 and the roll 230 the table 2 02 is again raised for treatment ofthat piece of Work. With a speed of 20 feet per minute of the conveyorbelt 200 the machine will produce sides of leather (with an averageover-all measurement of eleven feet) per hour.- This allows the operatorsum- Roll 230 serves to retain the hide Lowering of I formity inresults. i

Having described my invention, what I, claim as new and desire tosecurecient time to place the work pieces on the belt.

With a conveyor speed of 20 feet per minute the following adjustment andsetting of the machine is most advantageous:

If the speed of the conveyor 2Ull'wer e changed all the above figuresmust necessarily be changed because a new revolution of forces wouldbecome necessary. A variation inthe materials treated may also require adifferentadjustment. j

' Water and/or other loose metenin on the work pieces is put out fromvthe central portion of each piece toward the edges thereof and suchwaterand/or loose material either drops from the belt at once or is removedvby' asuitable scraper (not shown) or by gravity during the return runof thebelt. Theends of bars 225 are shown in Fig. 1. Such wipers mayaid. in cleaning the belt as heretofore stated. 1 s With such a machinea large. output of work ispossible andvarious sizes of work pieces maybe fully treated with a minimumamount of attention by the operator.Inthe case of hides or skins, the treatment may be along the-lines of.

stretch of the work piece, a form of treatment recognizedin the art o-fleather manufacture as being advantageousfand preferable. The toolsproduce treated areas .on the Work pieceswhich areas. are in progressiveand overlapping rela tionship, an 'effect which is the United States is:f i i i 1. In a machine for treating sheet material, a

conductive, to uniby Letters Patent of movable work supporting meanshaving a single continuous surface, a plurality of, sets of toolsmounted for simultaneous movement parallel to 5. In a machine fortreating sheet materia1,a

work supporting means having a continuous sur face, a plurality of setsof tools mounted for movement in X formationin a plane adjacenfi and,parallel to said surface, means to guide the tools in such movementyandmeans for moving the work supporting means inand away from operativeposition with respect; to the sets of tools. I w I i x 6.In a machinefor treating sheet material, a table for supporting work; pieces, aplurality of sets of tools mounted formovement in X formationin a planeadjacent andparallel to said table, means for movingthetable in and awayfrom operative position with respect to the toolsfand means to maintainwork pieces inposition with respect to the table against undue shifting,because ofthe actionof the tools; i a "I. In a machine such as set.forth in claim 6 l in which the means to maintain the workpieces inposition comprises a member extending transverse to the table andarranged to bear down upon a work piece supported by said table.

8. In a machine for treating hides comprising member for a hide tobetreated, and means for l varying the clearance between the twoplanesto bring such hide into or out from engagement with the tool sets. r

9. In a hide treating machine comprisinga frame, atleast four treatingtool carrying mem bers mounted thereon for divergent path's of operationina first plane upon awork piece such as a hide," four of said toolmembers adapted to operate tools from acentral area *of said hide intoand along the shank areas, a table lying in a second plane parallel tosaid first plane to serve as a backing-up member for the hide to betreated, and means forevar'ying the clearance between the two planes tobring the work piece into: or out from engagement with thetools.

said surface and along at least four; diverging directions from acentral,area on said surface, means to drivethe tool sets in the saiddirections to treat sheet material supported on saidsurface, and meansfor moving the supporting means during the treatment.

2. In a machine for treating .sheet material, a supporting means havinga .singlecontinujous surface, a plurality of tool v sets mounted in .;X.formation and each tool set comprising a series of individual toolsmounted for outward actionin the X formationlon sheet material placed onsaid surface.

3. In a machine for treating sheet material, a

supporting means having asingle plane surface for supporting a sheet ofmaterial to, be treated,

a plurality of tool setsmounted forloutward movement along at least fourdiverging paths in a plane adjacent and paralleltto said surface,

means to, drive the tool sets in said paths, and means for moving thesupporting means relative to the plurality of tool sets.

4. In a machine for treating sheet material, a supporting means having asinglecontinuous sur v face for supporting-a ,sheetof material to betreated, a plurality of power dllVBll'stOOl sets mounted for outwardmovement along at least four divergin paths. in. aplane adjacent andparallel to said surface, the positions of said tool "J i 10. 'In a hidetreating machine, four treating f tool carrying members mounted inXtformation" for divergent operation from a central area of a spread outhide toward the shank areas of said hide, said mounting being in a-firstplane, addirtional treating tool carryingmembers arranged to place thehide undertension-along the back bone line'duringsaid operation, a tablelying in hide treating tools.

11. In a hide treating machine comprising aframe, four hide treatingtool carrying members mounted thereon in X formation for divergent pathsof operation in a first plane, a table lying,

ina second plane parallel to said first plane to serve as a backing-upmember for a work piece to be treated by the tools, means for varyingthe clearance between the two planes to bring such a work piecednto orout from engagement with f the hide treating tools, and meanscontrolledby thepresence of the hide upon thetable to lift:

the table into operative position.

" 12.111 a hide treating machine comprising a frame, four treating toolcarrying members mounted thereon in x formation for. divergent paths ofoperation in a first plane, a table lying in a second plane parallel tosaid first plane to serve as a backing-up member for a work piece to betreated, means for varying clearance between the two planes to bringsuch a work piece into or out from engagement with the hide treatingtools, and conveying means for moving the hide along the table.

v13. In a putting-out machine comprising a frame, a table mounted onsaid frame, at least four sets of putting-out tool mounted parallel tosaid table for simultaneous and diverging paths of movement in ahorizontal plane, and a conveyor fortransferring a work piece such as ahide across the surf-ace of the table, the distance between thehorizontal plane of tool move: ment and the table being variable tobring the work piece into and out from engagement with the putting-outtool sets.

14. In a putting-out machine comprising a frame, a table mounted on saidframe, four sets of putting-out tools mounted in X formation andparallel to said tablefor diverging paths of movement in a horizontalplane, and a conveyor belt for transferring a spread-out piece such as ahide across the surface of the table, the said paths of movementconforming generally with the shank areasof the work piece, and meansfor varying the distance between the horizontal plane of tool movementand the conveyor belt to bring the work piece into and out fromengagement with the putting-out tool sets.

15. In a putting-out machine comprising a frame, a table mounted on saidframe, at least four sets of puttin'g-out tools mounted parallel to saidtable for diverging paths of movement 'in a horizontal plane andconforming with the shank areas of a spread-out hide" to be treated,additional sets of tools mounted in said horizontal plane to maintainthe hide under tension along the backbone line during the treatingoperation, a conveyor for transferring the hide across the surface ofthe table, and means to bring the table, conveyor and'hide intooperating position in cooperation with the tool sets.

16. In a putting-out machine comprising ,a frame, a table mounted onsaid-frame, at least four sets of putting-out tools mounted parallel tosaid table for simultaneous and diverging paths of movement in ahorizontal plane, a conveyor belt for transferring ahide across thesurface of the table, and yieldable means to lift the table and conveyorto bring the hide into andout from engagement with the putting-out toolsets.

1'7. A machine of the type set forth in claim 16, in which said conveyorbelt is operable to transfer the hide while said hide is being workedupon iv the putting-out tools to produce progressive overlapping treatedareas on the hide.

18. A machine of the type set forth in claim 16, including holding meanstending to retain the hide in position relative to the conveyor beltwhile being worked upon by the putting-out tools.

19. In a machine for treating hides, a support forming a backing for ahide, a plurality of tools operating-in a common plane for treating ahide on said support, means for lifting the support to press the hideagainst said tools and for moving the hide along said planerelatively,to said tools while maintaining the hide in pressingengagement with said tools, and said tools being-arranged-in at leastfour diverging sets thereby to produce progressive overlapping treatedareas on the hide.

20. In a machine of the class described, a support for backing a hide, aplurality of tools arranged in sets diverging in a horizontal plane foroperating upon a hide backed by the support,

means for moving the support and hide parallel to said horizontal plane,means operating in timed relation to the movement of the hide forefiecting relative movement of the support and tools to press the hidebetween them, and means for moving the tools in outwardly directed pathsin said plane while the hide is thus held under pressure thereby toproduce progressive overlapping treated areas on the hide.

21. A machine of the type described in .claim 20 including means tendingto retain the hide in position relative to the means for moving the hideto resist any excessive strain placed upon the hide by one or more ofthe tool sets.

22. A machine of the type described in claim.

20, in which the sets of tools are adjustable to vary the angles ofdivergence.

23. In a machine for treating, hides, a yieldable support for backing aspread-out hide, at least four diverging sets of tools for operatingupon the hide backed by the support, means for moving each set of toolsduring said operating the said latter means being firmly mounted withthe sets of tools on a fixed frame, and means for moving the supportinto and out of operative relationship with the sets of tools.

24. In a machine for treating hides, a support for backing a spread-outhide, four diverging sets of tools, one set arranged to operateoutwardly on each flank portion of the hide, twoadditional "sets oftools arranged to pull both ways along ated by fluid pressure.

the backbone line of the hide, and means for moving the support togetherwith a hide thereon by and in engagement with the tools, said movementbeing in the same direction as the backbone line. 25. In a machine fortreating sheet material, in combination, 'a smooth support for sheetmaterial to be treated, a conveyor belt arranged to carry uch sheetmaterial across and over the surface of the smooth support at a uniformrate, tools mounted parallel to the smooth support to operate upon thesheet material when the latter is moved into material treating position,and means motivated by the leading edge of the sheet material to movethe sheet material, belt and support into said material treatingposition when the sheet material has been conveyed into positionopposite that of the tools, said means also being operable by thetrailing edge of the sheet material to move the sheet material, belt andsupport away from said material'treating position after adequatetreatment by the tools.

26. In a machine for treating sheet material, a frame, sets ofindividual tools mounted thereon in X formation, each set being arrangedto perform work outwardly in said X formation, a conveyor belt adaptedto support pieces of work for successive presentation to the sets oftools, a table over which the conveyor belt is arranged to slide, saidtable being adapted to serve as a backing-up member during treatment ofthe work pieces by said tools, means to move the conveyor during thework treating operation, and means operating in timed relation with theposition of each work piece relative to the, tool sets to lift the tableto press the work piece on the moving conveyor against the tools'and to.lower the table when treatment of each work piece is adequate.

27. A machine of the type described in claim 26, in which the means tolift the table is oper- DAVID EDGAR.

